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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparison of goat, sheep, cattle and water buffalo leptin (LEP) genes and effects of the Intron 1 microsatellite polymorphism in goats

Paola Di Gregorio A D , Adriana Di Trana A , Pietro Celi B , Salvatore Claps C and Andrea Rando A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Università degli studi della Basilicata, Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy.

B University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, PMB 4003, Narellan, NSW 2567, Australia.

C Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura – Unità di Ricerca per la Zootecnia Estensiva, Via Appia, 85054 Muro Lucano (PZ), Italy.

D Corresponding author. Email: paola.digregorio@unibas.it

Animal Production Science 54(9) 1258-1262 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14101
Submitted: 20 February 2014  Accepted: 16 May 2014   Published: 10 July 2014

Abstract

We report and compare the partial genomic sequence (from part of Intron 1 to part of Exon 3) of goat, sheep, cattle and water buffalo leptin (LEP) genes. Genomic DNA was obtained from leukocytes of 117 goats belonging to six breeds (Angora, Alpine, Garganica, Girgentana, Maltese and Red Syrian); 30 sheep belonging to five breeds (Altamura, Sarda, Apulian Merino, Leccese, Apennine) 50 water buffaloes and 43 Italian Friesian cattle. All the four species had a microsatellite region in Intron 1. According to the results of a population analysis, we observed 10, 5, and 2 alleles, in cattle, water buffalo and goats, respectively, in this region. No nucleotide variation was observed in sheep. The results of this study show that in Red Syrian goats the two alleles are associated with significantly different effects on β-hydroxybutyric acid (P = 0.04) and free thyroxine (P = 0.018) levels, and milk somatic cell counts (P = 0.034). The same microsatellite region was tendentially associated with variation in insulin-like growth factor-1 (P = 0.082) and triglycerides (P = 0.072) levels. The results of this study are further evidence for the role of leptin as an indicator of metabolism and mammary gland health in dairy ruminants.

Additional keywords: beta-hydroxybutyric acid, free thyroxine, milk somatic cell counts, ruminants.


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